“Experience a fine run on the Key Summit ridge with spectacular panoramas of Fiordland National Park.”

Features
Lake · Views · Wildflowers

Heed all warning signs for the 1080 animal poison that was distributed in the area at the end of 2017.

Description

From Key Summit, head further south on the obvious track along the mountain ridge. After a quarter of a mile, you reach the viewpoint of Lake Marian—a tarn at the base of Mount Christina just across the Hollyford Valley. Turn slightly left and follow the path across the alpine meadow. Just a bit further is another boardwalk across a wet meadow with a beautiful tarn to the right. The track soon re-enters the beech forest, which can be very muddy for most of the season.

At half a mile, you are back on the meadow. Sometimes, there can be several paths and they all lead in the right direction, but staying to the right is the safest bet. As you run further on the ridge, the view to all sides is just stunning. Lake Marian is even more visible. Consolation Peak is also to your right. Toward the left you can look into the Greenstone Valley, and once you reach the highest point, you have a great view of Lake McKellar. There is a cairn at the end of the trail. It used to continue further and back down the Greenstone Valley, but this track—formerly known as Whiskey Track—is no longer used by runners.